Transporting 10,000 Fish

[Ludwig Venter]

I have placed all my fish for sale on our local equivalent of your "e-Bay", called "bid or buy"

I mention there that the buyer has to catch, collect and transport the fish. The bid closes on 15th February. Now, a potential buyer asked me to suggest a means of Transport from my place to his and he lives in Pietermaritzburg, some 800km from me...(would be about a 9hr drive - 18hr round trip)

I have not given him an answer yet. What do you guys suggest (these are mostly livebearers and Convicts and there are around 10,000 of them alltogether)

 

[Yanks15]

I would assume you would ship them the same way the large pet stores do. Bag them by group and crate them up. My guess is that a shipment that size would be handled by a shipping company. Could be expensive but if he is willing to pay for shipping than why not.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

The onus is on the buyer to come to my place, catch the fish out him/herself, put it into his/her containers and transport the fish back to his/her place.

This guy is asking me to make a suggestion as to what size containers he would need and how many and everything else relevant to transporting the fish back to his place some 800km away.

 

[Thecloud]

work out how much room 10 fish would take up then x that by 1000 how are we expected to know how big your fish are? work out what bags you can order and their size, then work out how many fish you think you can safely put into each bag, then times that size by however many other bags you need.

Simple maths but I dont think anybody can do it for you, we can all pitch in a guess but you could be more accurate than any of us could be as you can see the fish.

 

[Bebobb]

Sorry to be off topic, but why are you selling your fish? Are you leaving the hobby?

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Sorry to be off topic, but why are you selling your fish? Are you leaving the hobby?

There is good potential for me to be moving house soon and I do not want to move with so many fish... This also affords me the opportunity to refurbish my tanks and stands so that I can set up fresh again when I get to the new house. It will probably take me about 8 months to get back on target (current standard) ,.... but leave the hobby??... I've been doing it for 40 years.. what will I do with my leisure time?

 

[Ludwig Venter]

work out how much room 10 fish would take up then x that by 1000 how are we expected to know how big your fish are? work out what bags you can order and their size, then work out how many fish you think you can safely put into each bag, then times that size by however many other bags you need.

Simple maths but I dont think anybody can do it for you, we can all pitch in a guess but you could be more accurate than any of us could be as you can see the fish.

Thecloud... you clever you!!... & because it is round figures, I won't even need a calculator.

No... this guy wants to bring containers to put the fish in... I did mention that they are livebearers (guppies, Platies, Swords, Mollies)?. (only about 100 are Convicts)...

What are the logistics behind transporting so many fish over so great a distance?.... Battery pumps for aeration.... additions to the waters, stopovers halfway & do partial water changes, number and size of containers, etc. etc.

 

[Bebobb]

Sorry to be off topic, but why are you selling your fish? Are you leaving the hobby?

There is good potential for me to be moving house soon and I do not want to move with so many fish... This also affords me the opportunity to refurbish my tanks and stands so that I can set up fresh again when I get to the new house. It will probably take me about 8 months to get back on target (current standard) ,.... but leave the hobby??... I've been doing it for 40 years.. what will I do with my leisure time?

Soumds good to me. I thought it sounded odd when I thought about you leaving the hobby.

 

[llamalord305]

However you want to trasport them, a small amount of zeolite in the bag/container where the fish is would not be a bad idea. I know some companies ship their fish with it.

 

[loraxchick]

use some big coolers instead of bags or buckets. zeolite is a great idea for ammonia control. definately need an airpump of some sort for the journey.
coolers=swimming room (even if wayyy overcroweded-better than bags+all the time it would take to bag them) plus, they have lids! minimize risk or sloshing water into the car/truck.
with that said, 10000 fish is a WHOLE lot of livestock. would take quite a fewc
large coolers id imagine.
good luck with the transaction
cheers

 

[Tolak]

I'd take my truck, and toss a 300 gallon tub in the back. Fill it with your water, treat your water with a product that converts ammonia to ammonium. Run a power converter with a large air pump, aerate the water for the drive.

 

[GAB99]

also if he could and if you could id do seperate trips to minimize expenses on tons of large coolers he'll never need again

 

[Bebobb]

also if he could and if you could id do seperate trips to minimize expenses on tons of large coolers he'll never need again

I'm sure he could ask around for some that he could borrow. But, I think that he would have to buy a few... Maybe he could sell them on craigslist? Psh, nevermind that, who wants 25 coolers?

 

[GAB99]

also if he could and if you could id do seperate trips to minimize expenses on tons of large coolers he'll never need again

I'm sure he could ask around for some that he could borrow. But, I think that he would have to buy a few... Maybe he could sell them on craigslist? Psh, nevermind that, who wants 25 coolers?

my sentiments exactly, i would in stead suggest about 2 large (dont know how they are called, but ill describe it) big,clear,plastic,things that people use for storing blankets and old toys? some brands in the U.S. are sterlite and rubber maid? they usually have lids and they can hold around 40 gallons each, so you could have about 100-200 fish for the 9 hour drive in each and have a few buddys with different cars help so it wont take as long.

 

[Bebobb]

also if he could and if you could id do seperate trips to minimize expenses on tons of large coolers he'll never need again

I'm sure he could ask around for some that he could borrow. But, I think that he would have to buy a few... Maybe he could sell them on craigslist? Psh, nevermind that, who wants 25 coolers?

my sentiments exactly, i would in stead suggest about 2 large (dont know how they are called, but ill describe it) big,clear,plastic,things that people use for storing blankets and old toys? some brands in the U.S. are sterlite and rubber maid? they usually have lids and they can hold around 40 gallons each, so you could have about 100-200 fish for the 9 hour drive in each and have a few buddys with different cars help so it wont take as long.

Those would work too. OR, I doubt he has one, but if he does, I would suggest a "Cattle Water Tank" What that is is a big tank tht holds water for your cattle. I have seen some up to 5,000 gallons. They can be quite expensive, though. I think you would expect to pay $2,000 for one that size. I'm sure there are cheaper alternatives, but IF he has one of those, I would reccomend it.